Single lever outboard motor control



April 28, 1959 J. F. MORSE 2,8

SINGLE LEVER OUTBOARD MOTOR CONTROL Filed May 25, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 NEUTRAL m y FIG. I

" REVERSE FORWARD REVERSE THROTTLE WI GA BLE Q 55 @M I 'fl/ 24 V56 54 as .l5 ll 77 g 37 FULL FORWARD 2T CABLE I THROTTLE v 3 38 I V I0 '3 I? v INVENTOR. 37 JOHN F. MORSE HZ M ATTORNEYS April 28, 1959 J. F. MORSE SINGLE LEVER OUTBOARD MOTOR CONTROL 7 3 Sheets-Sheet .2

Filed May 23, 1958 INVENTOR. JOHN F. MOR

' ATTORNEYS mm 8 mm W mitt April 28, 1959 I JTFPMORSE I 2,

I SIN GLE LEVER OUTBOARD MOTOR CONTROL Filed May 25, 1958 3 Sheets-Shegt 3 FIG. 5

c a as 27 54 1 v 5| I 45 33 lo 43 4 FIG. 7

INVENTOR.

JOHN F.v MORSE ATTORNEYS United States Patent ISINGLE LEVER OUTBOARD MOTOR CONTROL John F. Morse, Hudson, Ohio Application May 23, 1958, Serial. No..737,314 15 Claims. (Cl. 192-.098)

The inventionrelatesgenerally to single lever controls .'for marine engines, and more specifically to an improved .single lever remote control for an outboard marine engine.

Outboard marine engines must .be designed for opera- ..tion by inexperienced operators, and .a singlelever con- .-trol for such engines is desirable because of its simplicity l'througha throttle range; and (3) it should allow'some iopening of the throttle without fshifting for starting and warming up the engine.

Outboard engines are frequentlyprovided 'withinter- -locking devices to prevent excessive throttle Jopeningin .neutral or in entering the shift range but it is desirable to remove such devices when the engines are' operated by .remotesingle lever controls in order to minimize the loads on the control lever. When this is done positive .means .must be provided in the control to limit the .throttle opening inneutral, and also in the reverse-shift range .since excessive speeds in reverse are dangerous as wellas unnecessary.

. .It.is an important object of the present invention to provide an improved single lever control for outboard engines which performs the foregoing basic functions, .and which has novelmeans to limit the throttle opening in the .neutral position of the lever.

.Another object is to provide .a self-contained control unit of extremely thin construction and adapted to be "easily paired with a like unit for controlling twin engines with onehand.

A further object is to provide .a novel .neutral throttle mechanism within the control unit for opening the throttle a predetermined limited amount in the neutral position of the control lever.

A still further object is to provide a novel interlock between theneutral throttle mechanism and the single lever control mechanism which permits operation of the neutral throttle mechanism only when the'controllever is 1in..neutral position, and which prevents operation of the control lever when the neutral throttle .mechanism is advancing the throttle. I

These and other objects are accomplishedby the .improvements comprising the present invention, apreferred embodiment of'whichis'shownby'way of example in the accompanying drawings, and described in detail'herein. Variousmodifications and changes in details ofconstructionare comprehended within'the scope of the invention asset "forth in the appended claims.

In' the present invention'themotion of the'control lever istransniitted to the clutch and throttle of the engine by push-pull cables, and as the control lever moves .through the s'hiftirange :itzmoves 'the core of one :cable inueither flit-action to 'engage the sclutch in .tforward :or :reverse,

'ice

.unit with the control lever and neutral throttle mechanism in neutral position, various other positions of :the

:controllever being shown in phantom lines.

Fig. 2 is a rear end elevation of two of the improved :control units of opposite hand assembled as a'zpair for controlling twin engines and mounted in-a .boat.

Fig. 3 is an inside elevation of one of the units, parts being broken away and in section, with the control lever and neutral throttle mechanism in neutral position.

Fig. 4 is a plan sectional view of the unit shown "in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary inside elevation similar .to Fig. 3, showing the advanced position of the neutral throttle mechanism in full lines.

.Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view substantially on line 6-6 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is a schematic view illustrating the manner in which the neutral throttle mechanism advances the ithrottle a limited amount .by applying 'a:reverse.moveportion of the casing and isjournaled in a bearing bushing 13 therein. The outer portion .14 of shaft .12 :is squared and has the inner end plate 15 of themai'n single control lever 16 keyed thereon. A thrust washer 17 may be interposed between the plate 15 and'the casing 10, and the plateis held on the squared end'of .the :shaft by "a washer 18 and screw 19.

Iheinner end of shaft 12 has an interrupted or intermittentgear plate 20 secured thereon, as by brazing or staking, :and an offset throttle arm21 is attachedto the inner faceof the gear plateby screws .22 and extends forwardly therefrom atright angles .to theiuprightrneutral position of the leverl16. The. gear plate 20 in neutral position'mesheswith an intermittent shifting gear plate 23 mounted for rotation on a stud 24 extending into the casing.

As shown, the gear .23 is ofsmaller pitch thangear '20, 'and in this embodiment is designed so that :a 30 :movement of gear 20 inteither direction from neutral will rotate thegear 23 through 45 in the opposite direction. However, the relative pitches of the two gearsmaysbe changed as desired. A shiftingarmZSis secured to gear 23 .and extends downwardly .therefrom. .In order to minimize the overall thickness of the unit to betterzadapt .it for mating "with another .unit of opposite hand, the shifting arm is made integral and co-planar with the gear 23.

When the igearf2llisrotated beyond the30 movement .inzeither direction, the: gear segment on gear '20 becomes unmeshed from the gear segment on gear 23, so that the -arm 25 remains at its 45 position'on either side'iof neutral. However, one .of the arcuate faces 26 :o'figear '23 rotatively engages the circular edge'of gear 20 -as:it continues to'rotate,-so that the arm 25 is maintainedin its 45 position. The arm 25 is connected by apushpull cable 27 to the usual :ShlftilfiVEPOr clutch lever C .ofwan: outboard engine, and the arm. 21 is connected :by a push-pull r cable 28 to: the throttle. lever =29 (-Fig. 7;) oftthe engine. These cables are of the swivel-end type, in which the end of the cable casing is rigidly mounted on the control unit, and an extension of the cable swivels on the bracket to compensate for the arcuate motion or the shifting and throttle arms.

As shown, the outer end of shifting arm 25 has a swivel connection 30 with the end of a push rod 31 which telescopes within a sleeve 32 and is secured to the end of the core 33 of push-pull cable 27. The opposite end of the sleeve 32 has a swivel connection permitting limited swinging thereof in the front end of a mounting bushing 34 secured in a clip 35 anchored to the inner surface of the front casing plate by bolts 36. The rear end of the bushing 34 is swaged or otherwise secured to the casing or sheath 37 of cable 27. A rubber or neoprene covering 38 may be provided over cable sheath 37 as a moisture seal. Resilient sleeves 39 and 40 may be provided at the joint between the bushing 34 and sleeve 32, and around the forward end of the sleeve 32, respectively.

The outer end of throttle arm 21 has a swivel connection 41 with the end of a push rod 42 which telescopes within a sleeve 43 and is secured to the end of the core 44 of push-pull cable 28. Preferably, an extension rod 45 is provided between the push rod 42 and swivel connection 41 so that by removing the extension the arm 21 can be reversed or turned 180 for connection with a pull rod for operating the throttle, without changing the position of shaft 12.

The sleeve 43 has a swivel connection with the front end of a mounting bushing 46 which is identical with the mounting bushing 34 and the rear end of the bushing 46 is secured to the sheath 47 of cable 28 in the same manner as bushing 34 is secured to the sheath 37 of cable 27. Resilient sealing sleeves 39 and 40 are provided at the joints, in the same manner as in connecting cable 27.

The mounting bushing 46 is secured in a swiveling clip 50 which is swiveled on a pin 51 eccentrically mounted in a plate 52 which has a concentric shaft extension 53 journaled in the front plate of casing 10, and the shaft has a squared end on which an auxiliary throttle lever 54 is keyed. The lever 54 is held on the shaft 'by means of a screw 55 and a washer 56.

Preferably, the plate 52 is substantially circular and has two diametrically opposite detent notches 55A and 553. In the neutral position of the throttle arm 21, as shown in Fig. 3, the notches 55, 55A, 55B and eccentric pin are aligned and in the plane of the push rod 42 connected to the throttle arm 21. The detent notch 55A receives a spring-biased ball 56 in the neutral position of the throttle arm, and the notch 55B is provided to receive the ball if a pull rod is used for a pull-open throttle, in which case the plate 52 is reversed as well as the throttle arm 21.

The ball 56 is yieldingly pressed against the plate 52 by a plunger 57 urged by a spring 58. The casing 59 for the spring and plunger may be secured to the inside of the casing by screws 60. The forward end of the plunger projects through the sleeve, and when the plate 52 is rotated and the ball rides out of the detent notch, the forward end of the plunger enters a notch 61 in the gear 23 in the neutral position of the control lever 16 as shown in Fig. 5.

Accordingly, in the position of Fig. 5, wherein the plate 52 has been rotated by turning the lever 54, the gear 23 is locked in neutral position, and the control lever 16 cannot be operated until the plate 52 is returned to the neutral position of Fig. 3 to retract the plunger from the notch 61 in gear 23. Conversely, if the control lever is moved out of neutral position, thus moving the notch 61 out of alignment with plunger 57, the auxiliary throttle lever 54 is locked in the idle position of Fig. 3 because the plunger cannot be extended to allow the ball 56 to ride out of detent notch 55A.

Preferably, the control lever 16 is yieldingly held in neutral position by a spring-biased ball 63 received in a detent notch 64 in the gear 20. As shown in Fig. 3, the casing 4 65 for the spring 66 is attached to the front plate of casing 10 by screws 67.

When the control lever 16 is rotated 30 from neutral in either direction with the lever 54 in the idle position of Fig. 3, the shifting arm moves the swivel connection 30 through 45 in the opposite direction to either of the phantom positions shown in Fig. 3. In this range the push rod 31 and core 33 to which it is connected moves the shifting lever of the engine to fully engage the clutch of the engine in forward or reverse. In this range the 30 movement of the throttle arm 21 on its arc causes very slight displacement of the push rod 42 "and cable core 44 because the arm 21 and push rod are swinging in the same general direction on different arcs. This slight displacement of the push rod is normally absorbed by the backlash in the cable and in the throttle linkage in the motor, without causing any advance of the throttle.

Further movement of the control lever beyond 30 into the forward or reverse throttle range causes suflicient displacement of the push rod 42 to progressively advance the throttle.

Referring to Fig. 7, with the lever 54 in its idle position, and the sheath of cable 28 secured at one end to the clip 50 on the control unit and at the other end to a clip 70 on the engine E, movement of the throttle lever beyond the shift range exerts sufiicient displacement of push rod 42 to correspondingly displace the push rod 71 connected to the throttle lever 29 on the engine.

If it is desired to advance the throttle of the engine sufficiently to start or warm up the engine without entering the shifting range, the control lever 16 is left in neutral as shown in Fig. 3, while the auxiliary lever 54 is moved forwardly toward the position of Fig. 5. As lever 54 is moved forwardly, the eccentric pin 51 is rotated by plate 52 forwardly and upwardly and carries with it the clip 50 and the mounting bracket 46 secured to the cable sheath 47, pulling the sheath forwardly.

As shown in Fig. 7, some slack is provided in cable 28 between the clip 50 and the first clip 72 secured to the cable two or three feet to the rear. Accordingly, when the cable sheath is pulled forwardly by the throttle lever 54 the slack in the cable is partly taken up as indicated by the dotted lines, and since the core is held rigid at the forward end by push rod 42, a differential rearward movement of the core is exerted on the throttle lever 29 to advance the throttle.

The total amount the throttle can be advanced by movement of the lever 54 can be predetermined by the amount of eccentricity of the pin 51, and this should be limited to a small percentage of full throttle opening to prevent excessive speeds of the engine in neutral. The forward movement of the lever 54 is limited by engagement of the flanged end of the lever with the housing flange 11 as indicated in Figs. 2 and 3.

If a pull-open type of throttle is used, the arm 21 and plate 52 are rotated through as previously described, and rotation of plate 52 moves the eccentric pin 51 on the forward side of the shaft 53. The relative position of lever 54 is kept the same by replacing it on the squared end of the rotated shaft 53. Forward movement of the lever 54 will then rotate the pin 51 downwardly and rearwardly,

causing a rearward push on the cable sheath and a differential pull on the throttle lever.

As shown in Figs. 2, 4 and 6, because of the arrangement and construction of the various parts, and particularly the one-piece construction of the shifting gear 23 and arm 25, the thickness of the unit is greatly minimized so that a pair of units can be mounted back-to-back for controlling twin engines. The handles 75 on the control levers 16 are turned toward each other so that they can be grasped and operated together with one hand, as seen in Fig. 2.

When two of the control units are placed back-to-back, as in Fig. 2, they may be mounted on a mounting pad 76 in a boat indicated in phantom lines by mounting 'bolts 77. ZSince excessive speed in reverse is not desirable, the RTGVBI'SG movement of control lever 16 in the throttle range is'limited by engagement of the handle 75 with the top of the casing 10, as indicated in Fig. 1.

'The normal operation of the improved unit by means of'the single lever control shifts the engine into forward or'reverse and advances the throttle when the lever is il'l'llOVCd beyond the shifting range in either direction. The :"novel auxiliary throttle mechanism provides for .a limited advance of the throttle while the single lever control is in: neutral, and the interlocking mechanism prevents operation of the auxiliary throttle except when the control --lever is in neutral position, and prevents operation of tthe icontrol lever' while the auxiliary throttle is being roperated.

WhatIis claimed is:

i1. .In a'single lever control unit for an outboard engine, -.-said control unit having :a housing, a throttle control arm "andia clutch'control arm operatively connected thereto iforrotation only during the first portion of rotation of 'rthe throttle control .arm, said arms adapted for connecrati'onrto the cores of push-pull cables for operating the athrottle and clutch of the engine, auxiliary throttle mechatnism'for operating the throttle when said'throttle control .armvis in neutral position comprising a mounting -clip 'for attachment to the casing of said throttle cable, 111163.118 movably mounting said clip on said housing, and :nreanstformoving said mounting means to move'said clip :.in;:asi direction substantially opposite to the direction of izrnovementiof the cable core normally causedby :said throttle-arm.

J.'2.;In:a.single lever control unit for an outboard engine, --said control unit having a housing, a throttle control arm .iand a:clutch :controlarm operatively connected thereto ';for;rotation.only during the first portion of rotation of .the throttle control;arm,said;arms adapted for'connecftiOnitOIthBiCOI'eS of 'push-pullcables for operating the ithrottle and clutch of theiengine, auxiliary throttle mechanism for operating the throttle-when said throttle control arm isiin neutral'position comprising amounting :clip for attachmenttto the casing of siaid'throittle cable, :means pivotally mounting said clip on said housing, and v:rneansfor moving said pivot means'relative to said throttle ;:arm..to move :said cable casing in a'directionsubstantially iopposite to the direction of movement of the cable core -normallyjcaused by; said throttle arm.

Ineasinglelever control unit for an outboard engine, "said control unit having a housing, a throttle control arm .ianda clutch control arm operatively connected thereto iforcrotationzonlyiduring thefirst portion ofrotati-on of fthe;:thr,ottle control arm,'said armstadapted for connecttiomto the cores of push-pull cables for operating the throttle andclutch of the engine, auxiliary throttle mechainismzforxoper ating the throttle when said throttle con- ..trol arm is in neutral position comprising amounting -clip for attachment to the casing of said throttle cable,

a plate rotatably mounted in said housing, means pivotally mounting said clip eccentrically on said plate, and means for rotatingsaid plate to move s'aid casing clip in :a direction substantially opposite to the direction of movement of the cable core'normally-caused by said throttle arm.

4. Inasingle lever control unit foran outboard engine, :said control unit having a housing, a throttle control arm and a clutch control arm operatively connected thereto for rotation only during the first portion of rotation of the throttle control arm, said arms adapted for connection to the cores of push-pull cables for operating the throttle and clutch of the engine, auxiliary throttle mechanism for operating the throttle when said throttle control arm is in neutral posit-ion comprising a mounting clip for attachment to the casing of said throttle cable, a shaft journaled in said housing, means eccentrically mounting said casing clip on said shaft and a lever on said shaft to swing said casing clip in a direction;sub- -=-'stantially"opposite tothe' direction'of movement offithe cable core normally caused by said throttle arm.

5."In"a-single lever control unit'for an outboard engineysaid-control unit having a housing, a throttle 'control-arm-and a clutch control arm operatively connected thereto for rotation only during the first portion of rotationof'the throttle control arm, said arms adapted for connection'to thecores of push-pull cables for operating the'throttle and clutch of the'engine, auxiliary throttle mechanism for-operating the throttle when said throttle control arm is in neutral position comprising a mounting Cliptorattachment to the casing of said throttle cable, meansmovably mounting s-aid'clip on said housing, =meansfor moving said mounting means to move said clip in adirection substantially opposite to the direction 'of 'movement of the 'cable core normally caused bysaid throttle arm, and detent means yieldingly holding said clip mounting means stationary during operation 'of 'the cable core bysaid throttle arm.

6.'In :a single lever control unit for an outboard engine, said-control unit having a housing, a throttle control arm anda clutch control arm operatively connected there- 1 to for'rotation only during the first portion of rotation of the throttle'control airm, said arms adapted for connection'to 'the cores of push-pull cables for operating --the throttle and clutch of the engine, auxiliary throttle mechanism for openatingthe throttle when said throttle control arm is in neutral position comprising a mounting 'clip for'attachment to the casing of said throttle cable, :a plate rotatably mounted in'said housing, mean pivotally mounting saidiclip' eccentrically on said 'plate,means for rotating'said plate to:move said casing clip in adirection isubstantially opposite I to the direction of movementof the -'cable'corenorm'ally caused by'said throttle armpand :Idetent 'means' yieldingly' holding said plate stationary during operation of the cable "core by said throttle arm.

7.Inafsingle lever control vunit for an outboard engine, fsaid-ccontrol' unit havingahousing, 'a throttle controlarm and a clutch :control arm operatively connected thereto -fori'rotation 'only during the first portion of rotation'iof the throttle'control arm,said arms adapted for connection :to' the cores-of. push-Jpull cables for operating the throttle andi'tclutch of the engine, auxiliary throttle mechanism -foroperating the throttle when said throttle control'arm :is ,lllTIlfiHtliilipOSltlOI! comprising a mounting clip :for attachmentato the .casing of said throttle cable, imeans :movablymountingsaid 'clip on :said housing, means izfor .movingsaidtmounting:means to move said clip in a direc- :tion substantially 'oppositeto the direction of movement :oftheacable core normallycaused bysaid throttle arm, and interlockingzmeans preventing movement of said clip 'mountingtmeans whentheclutch control arm iscnotiin rneutral ;poSition, said interlocking means being operated by movement of "said clip mounting means to lock the 1 clutch controlzarm in neutral position.

.8. 'Inza singlelever'control unit for an outboard'engine, isaid-controlunit having va housing, 'a throttle'control arm and a;clutch control arm operatively connected thereto :for .rotationonly during the first portion of rotation of :thetthrottle control arm, said arms adapted for connecztion'to the'cores fofpush-pull cables for operating "the throttle "and clutch 'o'flthe engine, auxiliary throttle'mech ;anisrn-'for'operating the "throttle when said throttlecontrol iarm is inneutral' position-"comprising-a mountingclipsfor attachment to the casing of said throttle cable, means pivotally mounting said clip on said housing, means for moving said pivot means relative to said throttle arm to move said cable casing in a direction substantially opposite to the-direction of movement of the cable core normally caused by said throttle arm, and interlocking means, preventing movement of said clip mounting means when the clutch control arm is not in neutral position, saidinterlocking means being operated by movement of 7 said pivot means to lock the clutch control arm in neutral position.

9. In a single lever control unit for an outboard engine, said control unit having a housing, a throttle control arm and a clutch control arm operatively connected thereto for rotation only during the first portion of rotation of the throttle control arm, said arms adapted for connection to the cores of push-pull cables for operating the throttle and clutch of the engine, auxiliary throttle mechanism Ifor operating the throttle when said throttle control arm is in neutral position comprising a mounting clip for attachment to the casing of said throttle cable, a plate rotatably mounted in said housing, means pivotally mounting said clip eccentrically on said plate, means for rotating said plate to move said casing clip in a direction substantially opposite to the direction of movement of the cable core normally caused by said throttle arm, and interlocking means operated by rotation of said plate to lock the clutch control arm in neutral position.

10. In a single lever control unit for an outboard en gine, said control unit having a housing, a throttle control arm and a clutch control arm operatively connected thereto for rotation only during the first portion of rotation of the throttle control arm, said arms adapted for connection to the cores of push-pull cables for operating the throttle and clutch of the engine, auxiliary throttle mechanism for operating the throttle when said throttle control arm is in neutral position comprising a mounting clip for attachment to the casing of said throttle cable, a shaft journaled in said housing, means eccentrically mounting said casing clip on said shaft, a lever on said shaft to swing said casing clip in a direction substantially opposite to the direction of movement of the cable core normally caused by said throttle arm, and interlocking means operated by rotation of said shaft to lock the clutch control arm in neutral position.

11. In a single lever control unit for an outboard engine, said control unit having a housing, a throttle control arm and a clutch control arm operatively connected thereto for rotation only during the first portion of rotation of the throttle control arm, said arms adapted for connection to the cores of push-pull cables for operating the throttle and clutch of the engine, auxiliary throttle mechanism for operating the throttle when said throttle control arm is in neutral position comprising a mounting clip for attachment to the casing of said throttle cable, means movably mounting said clip on said housing, detent means yieldingly holding said mounting means stationary,

means for moving said mounting means to move said clip in a direction substantially opposite to the direction of movement of the cable core caused by operation of said throttle arm, and said detent means having an element actuated by movement of said clip mounting means to lock the clutch arm in neutral position.

12. In a single lever control unit for an outboard engine, said control unit having a housing, a throttle control arm and a clutch control arm operatively connected thereto for rotation only during the first portion of rotation of the throttle control arm, said arms adapted for connection to the cores of push-pull cables for operating the throttle and clutch of the engine, auxiliary throttle mechanism for operating the throttle when said throttle control arm is in neutral position comprising a mounting clip for attachment to the casing of said throttle cable,

a plate rotatably mounted in said housing, means pivotally mounting said clip eccentrically on said plate, detent means yieldingly holding said plate stationary, means for rotating said plate to move said casing clip in a direction substantially opposite to the direction of movement of the cable core caused by operation of said throttle arm, said detent means having an element operated by rotation of said plate to engage the clutch control arm and lock said clutch control and throttle control arms in neutral position, and the engagement of said clutch control arm with said detent element acting to prevent rotation of said plate when said arms are moved out of neutral position.

13. In a single lever control unit for an outboard engine, said control unit having a housing, a throttle control shaft and a clutch control shaft, said shafts adapted for operating the throttle and clutch of the engine by means of push-pull cables having their casings secured at one end to said housing, said throttle control and clutch control shafts having inter-engaging rotatable elements thereon whereby said clutch control shaft is rotated only during the first part of rotation of the throttle shaft in either direction from neutral, and lever arms on said rotatable elements for connection to the cores of said cables, at least one of said lever arms being integral and co-planar with the element to which it is connected.

14. In a single lever control unit for an outboard engine, said control unit having a housing, a throttle control shaft and a clutch control shaft, said shafts adapted for operating the throttle and clutch of the engine and having their casings secured at'one end to said housing, said throttle control and clutch control shafts having inter engaging rotatable elements thereon whereby said clutch control shaft is rotated only during the first part of rotation of the throttle shaft in either direction from neutral, a lever arm mounted on said throttle control shaft for connection to the core of the throttle-operating cable, and a lever arm integral with the rotatable element on said clutch control shaft for connection to the core of the clutch-operating cable.

15. A single lever outboard engine control unit of minimum thickness adapted to be paired in back-to-back relation with a similar unit of opposite hand for twin engine control, said unit having a housing comprising a front plate and rearwardly extending flanges for abutting like flanges on said other unit, a throttle control shaft and a clutch control shaft journaled in said front plate, interengaging elements on said shafts whereby said clutch control shaft is rotated only during the first part of rotation of the throttle shaft in either direction from neutral, said elements abutting the inside of said front plate, lever arms associated with said throttle and clutch control shafts, at least one of said arms being integral and coplanar with said interengaging element on the shaft associated therewith, mounting clips on the inside of said front plate for securing push-pull cables adapted for connection to said throttle and clutch arms to operate the throttle and clutch of the engine.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

